Smash was so scary - Alonso

RENAULT’S Fernando Alonso has revealed his new-found respect for trackside marshals after finding himself with a grandstand seat for Felipe Massa’s huge accident in yesterday’s practice session ahead of the British Grand Prix.

RENAULT’S Fernando Alonso has revealed his new-found respect for trackside marshals after finding himself with a grandstand seat for Felipe Massa’s huge accident in yesterday’s practice session ahead of the British Grand Prix.

The two-time world champion had an unwitting role in the Brazilian’s spectacular shunt when the engine in his Renault let go down Silverstone’s 180mph Hangar Straight, spewing oil on the entry into the fifth-gear Stowe corner as the car rolled to a halt on the outside of the track.

Jarno Trulli’s Toyota was one of the first vehicles on the scene, the Italian catching some of the slippery stuff on the entry to the corner but suffering nothing more than a bumpy trip over the grass.

World championship leader Massa was less fortunate, his Ferrari lurching out of control after hitting Alonso’s oil, pirouetting and slamming backwards into a tyre barrier, destroying the rear end and giving the watching Alonso the fright of his life.

“I was walking on the tyre barrier to the car to take me back to the paddock and Massa hit the tyre barrier 10 metres, more or less, from where I was at that time,” Alonso revealed.

“When I saw the car coming, it was a little bit scary - I had nowhere to go. So I was there like the marshals, with my fingers crossed that no pieces of the car would hit me.”

Massa was fastest in the morning session despite his crash and was given a clean bill of health after being taken to the medical centre for checks.

Heikki Kovalainen set the pace in the afternoon for McLaren, with team-mate Lewis Hamilton second in both sessions as he looks to get his title challenge back on track after failing to score for two races.

World champion Kimi Raikkonen had a disappointing day in the second Ferrari.

The Finn was fourth fastest in the morning and only 12th in the second session.

THE British Grand Prix will move from Silverstone to Donington Park from 2010 as part of a new 10-year deal.

Silverstone, which had been home to the race since 1987, is owned by the British Racing Drivers’ Club, who had been in talks to secure a new deal.

“We wanted a world class venue for F1, something teams and fans could be proud of,” said F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone.

“Donington’s development plans will give us exactly that, a venue to put British motorsport back on the map.”